Walk for support dog program planned for Chilliwack

It’s time to lace up and leash up for a good cause. The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is hosting The Chilliwack Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides, May 26.

The walk is open to all ages and abilities, to those with or without service dogs, and to those with family dogs or no dogs at all. The purpose of the walk to raise money for The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which provides service dogs to Canadians at no cost, and with no government funding.

They say about one in five Canadians have disabilities that limited them in their daily activity, based on 2017 statistics.

This year, the foundation is holding about 300 walks in communities across the country, making it the largest fundraising endeavor of its kind. So far, they’ve raised $17 million from its past walks, and that money helps with raising, training and placing Dog Guides to Canadians with a medical or physical disability.

With the title sponsors’ help, 100 per cent of the funds raised by each walker goes toward their seven programs. Those are the Canine Vision Dog Guides, for people who are blind or visually impaired; Hearing Dog Guides, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing; Service Dog Guides, for people with a physical disability; Seizure Response Dog Guides, for people who have epilepsy; Autism Assistance Dog Guides, for children on the autism spectrum; Diabetic Alert Dog Guides, for people who have diabetes with hypoglycemic unawareness; and Support Dog Guides, for professional agencies with individuals in traumatic situations.

While each Dog Guide costs an average of $25,000, they are provided free of charge to qualifying Canadians. They have supplied more than 3,000 dogs to Canadians over the years. Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides receives no government funding and relies solely on donations from individuals, corporations, and fundraising activities.

For more information, to find a walk and register or to make a donation, visit www.walkfordogguides.com. There is no registration fee, but walkers are encouraged to gather pledges online.